Larkins Hall (1931-2005)

The former Larkins Hall was the primary physical education building on Ohio State University's Main Campus. It served as a recreational facility for the student body as well as facilities for the varsity swimming and diving teams.

It was built in 1931, but was doubled in size by a 1977 addition. This poorly-conceived addition left many strange marks on the building in terms of both aesthetics and functionality. The following photos illustrate many of these occurrences.


Outside of the Varsity Pool. The original building is on the left. Notice the lack of detail and improperly matched brick on the addition.



The inside of the same wall. The addition on the right does not even attempt to match the original building.



Womens pool shower facility. The cinder block wall was added to separate the area from the mens locker room. All facilities were for men only, prior to the 1977 addition. Several such alterations were made to accommodate women in the building. Notice the original arch inturrupted by the cinder block wall.



Dead spot in main mens locker room. This area, that obviously once served a specific purpose, became part of a maze-like hallway after the 1977 addition.



Public hallway that was originally part of a mens locker room. Notice the text still on the wall almost 30 years later. "Do not use this door unless fully clothed."



Classroom pool. One of two original pools in the building. There were a total of four pools when the building closed. Notice where the diving board used to be.



Brown Gym. The main gym in the old section of the building. It is on the third floor according to the building's orentation after the additon, but was considered the main floor in the original design. All doors in this gym have both 100-level and 300-level room numbers on them.

Click here to see additional photos from this building and to purchase prints.


Historic images from the OSU Photo Archives:

Original building photographed in 1934. The entire front façade will eventually be covered over in the addition. This photograph explains how the third floor was once the main level.


The architect's rendering of the 1977 addition from the same viewpoint. This illustration looks very close to what was actually built.

The OSU building record can be found here.

The building was torn down in 2005, to make way for the new Recreation and Physical Activity Complex on this site.